Tiger statue, stone, constructed in 1264 AD., Tran Thu Do’s tomb, Thai Binh province
Tiger statue, stone, constructed in 1264 AD., Tran Thu Do’s tomb, Thai Binh province.
This tiger, also called White Tiger, is one of the sacred animals chosen to represent the four cardinal directions (the entire group consists of the Green Dragon, White Tiger, Red Phoenix, Black Turtle and Snake), protecting the west side of Prime Minister Tran Thu Do’s tomb. This precious statue was carved in a realistic style and skillfully portrays the mighty characteristics of the jungle lord even when in a relaxed posture: body spreading long, paws forward, head held high. The statue not only shows talent of the artisan but also reflects the rich spiritual life of the Tran dynasty.